Wednesday, March 28, 2012

A new season

Winter has nearly passed in this part of the world. So, forthwith, a bit of spring news from downeast Maine. I've floundered around with my various projects over the last few months, but am happy to say I've made decent headway on all fronts.

Firstly, I must say that the book memoir I wanted to finish may be irredeemable. I worked on it and concluded that it needs much more than I can give it at this time. In fact it should be completely rewritten in some other form. I wrote most of it when I was in the throes of bookshop love, and subsequently the whole thing reads like an effusion, with no real story. Even though I do have a story (beginning, middle, end: girl loves books, girl runs bookshop, girl closes bookshop and moves on, with much more time to read). I think some time and distance will help me put things into perspective, so I am setting it aside again. Perhaps it will ripen. Then again, I've been reading Virginia Woolf, and she doesn't exactly help (much). I mean, hearing her say, in A Writer's Diary (Harcourt, Brace 1954, p.225):

"A note: despair at the badness of the book: can't think how I ever could write such stuff - and with such excitement: that's yesterday: today I think it good again. A note, by way of advising other Virginias with other books that this is the way of the thing: up down up down - and Lord knows the truth."

She speaks to her future self and to all of us, does she not? Anyway. There the book-book (as I affectionately call it) sits, in a tidy white box, awaiting more diligent time and love, which I have promised to give it someday.

Secondly, after a brief interlude of non-painting, I am back in the studio, and back outside with the return of warm weather. I've made a lot of paintings I'm very happy with, and also my new painting website is finally up and functioning. It includes a built-in blog, where I will write from time to time about art news. Comments, criticism, and/or praise are most welcome.

Thirdly, I am briefly mentioned in the current issue of Maine Home + Design magazine, in their annual Art Issue. My dear friend the painter Brita Holmquist is featured (watch her in this neat video about the making of this issue of the magazine), and in the article about her and her family home on Islesboro, there is a photograph of a few of my paintings. I've already heard from a few old friends who've seen the issue. It's only available in the print version this month, but perhaps the article will be on their website after April; I will post a link later if that is the case.

That's all for now. New post soon on the best books I read this winter. If I list mine, will you share some of yours?